Valley Women Rally to Defeat MiraCosta, 57-55

Jim Stephens, coach of the Valley College women’s basketball team, was a happy man. In his final home game Friday night, his team gave him a going-away present.

Valley overcame a 27-25 halftime deficit to defeat MiraCosta, 57-55, in a second-round Southern California regional playoff game that had far more significance than a mere gift. The win put Valley (25-4) into the state tournament March 5-7 at Cypress College.

“They played great,” Stephens said. “They played their hearts out. I’m very pleased with them. I would have been pleased even if they had lost.”

Of course, Stephens didn’t have to worry about that, thanks to 19 points each from forwards Maryjo Testa and Dametra Johnson.

Testa, a sophomore all-conference selection who missed three of the four games Valley lost this season with knee injuries, came to play in this one. Her three-point play with 1:34 to go put Valley ahead for good.

Testa had her doubts about the go-ahead free throw.

“I didn’t think it was going to go in,” she said. “I just prayed and when it went in I said, ‘The game is over.’ ”

And so it was, but not without a struggle.

Valley started slowly, going without a basket until 4:45 had elapsed in the game. MiraCosta, behind some hot shooting by Amy Hillebrand, raced to a 16-4 lead.

But the Monarchs, seeded second in the tournament and ranked third in the state, rallied behind Testa and Johnson. Bernandette Tillis added 12 points for Valley.

“That game was too close for comfort,” Stephens said. “The girls have risen to the occasion all season, though, so I was confident.

MiraCosta (21-5), seeded seventh in the tournament, had won 18 of its last 19 games.